The Global Knowledge Initiative (GKI) is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead its strategic growth and operations. The CEO will be responsible for developing innovative business models, fundraising, managing partnerships, and expanding GKI's global network and impact. Ideal candidates will have experience scaling small organizations into larger impactful ones and be passionate about collaborative innovation to solve global challenges. The CEO will inspire GKI's staff while refining its programs and vision to increase its reach and excellence.

1. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Global Knowledge Initiative
Closing Date: May 18, 2018
www.globalknowledgeinitiative.org

2. INTRODUCTION
The Global Knowledge Initiative (GKI) is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization, headquartered in
Washington, DC. Co-founded by former World Bank Science & Technology Strategist Sara Farley,
the former US Secretary of State’s Science & Technology Advisor Dr. Nina Fedoroff, and the former
Minister of Innovation of the Government of India Sam Pitroda, GKI has evolved significantly since its
start as an incubatee at the US National Academies of Science. Quickly becoming a reference point
for insight, programming, and process design and management on networks, innovation systems,
and collaborative problem solving, today’s GKI is one with a particular emphasis on problem solving
pertinent to agriculture and food security and global health with regional expertise most significant in
Africa and Southeast Asia. More about GKI can be found on the company website here:
www.globalknoweldgeinitiative.org.
Sara, co-founder and COO, has served as the day to day executive since the organization’s
conception, building GKI from a concept to an organization serving more than 60 countries to
date. Sara believes in the power of the world’s 7.5 billion solvers to connect and to solve the world’s
most complex challenges. Collaborative Innovation is her calling card and motivated her
conceptualization of GKI. She manages design and execution for all GKI programs, including
Collaborative Innovation trainings, network optimization programs (e.g., formulating/ sustaining
problem-solving networks), and Collaborative Innovation strategy setting (with partners including the
World Bank, Rockefeller Foundation, USAID, etc.). Beyond her executive duties, Sara continues to
thrive on the ground, running trainings and facilitating networks alongside her incredible team.
Serving in both the COO and CEO capacities since start up, Sara is eager to grow the leadership team
and serve in a capacity specific to the COO position while bringing fresh ideas, experience, scale
strategy, and vision to the helm of GKI by recruiting a CEO.
C E O R E C R U I T M E N T P A G E 0 1
GKI’s Mission:
Building Purpose-Driven Networks to Deliver
Innovative Solutions to the World’s Most
Pressing Challenges

3. C E O R E C R U I T M E N T P A G E 0 2
THE OPPORTUNITY
“GKI MAKES US SEE AND
UNDERSTAND THAT WE
CANNOT WORK WITHOUT
INVOLVING ALL OTHER
ACTORS. A SYSTEMS
PERSPECTIVE HAS SHOWN US
HOW TO SEE OTHER ACTORS
AND NETWORKS THAT WE
DIDN’T BEFORE WORK WITH.”
- Participant at a GKI-designed and
facilitated workshop on curbing food loss
of nutritious foods with the Global Alliance
for Improved Nutrition
This is a rare occasion for a development professional to move the needle on global development
challenges by mobilizing multi-sectoral, innovation-driven partnerships. The CEO will join an
organization distinguished in its application of tested innovation and design methods and deeply
committed to prototyping and testing new techniques. GKI was an early pioneer of the concept of
Collaborative Innovation.
The fundamental premise underpinning GKI’s approach is that the tools and resources to solve
complex development challenges often exist. What’s missing are inclusive, creative processes
whereby these tools, resources, and the ideas of individuals and organizations are united along the
problem solving journey from idea through to impact. GKI fuels governments, universities,
philanthropies, companies, research institutions and civil society organizations with the tools,
methods, and mindsets needed to engage successfully in Collaborative Innovation.
The primary differentiator of GKI from a consulting company is that we seek to develop the capacity
of as many changemakers as possible who can do what we do: forge and sustain problem solving
networks aimed at tackling the world’s most complex challenges. To that end, our Capacity
Development program is a critical cornerstone of our organization and our philosophy.
This is truly a unique opportunity for an experienced leader to operate from a strategic perch in
service to the field of global problem solving and innovation as opposed to a single sector or
challenge. It is also an opportunity to take an organization dubbed among the “top 100 social
innovations for the next century” from blueprint to scale—expanding the team, refining the strategic
vision and business model, and building upon the already impressive roster of clients amassed to
date.

4. C E O R E C R U I T M E N T P A G E 0 3
LOOKING FORWARD
Grand Plans for 2018
THE PERSON
Purpose of the Job
The purpose of the CEO is to drive strategy pertinent to growth, operations, and business
development as well as to build a team skilled, resourced, and motivated to double the impact and
size of the organization in the next three years.
Responsibilities
The CEO will be responsible for constructing innovative business models, executing large fundraising
strategies, leading the development and maintenance of relationships with a large number of donors
and partners, and spearheading personnel recruitment, performance management, and
development. Responsibilities also entail leadership of strategy formulation and implementation,
direct engagement of the Board of Directors, and provision of thought leadership sufficient to
maintain and grow GKI’s brand, influence, and impact. Additionally, the growth of GKI’s global
network and connections is chief among the aspects of the CEO role.
First and foremost, GKI seeks a bold and innovative development executive who has a demonstrated
track record of building and implementing scale strategies that grow small teams/organizations into
ones with larger reach, impact, and revenue. The ideal candidate will bring a well-established
managerial background to GKI and will be someone who can inspire, lead, design, and successfully
execute GKI’s new scale strategy. GKI seeks an agile, entrepreneurial strategist and fundraiser
recognized as passionate, structured, analytic, empathetic, and inspiring.
The CEO will have extensive experience refining programmatic offerings to boil down “what could be”
into “what will succeed at scale,” recognizing such refinement can entail shedding existing projects or
programs to refine the core value and offerings of GKI.
The CEO should be a diligent, detail-oriented, methodical thinker who brings a warm, well-spoken
demeanor to client and staff interactions.
Credibility with the technical communities that GKI facilitates demands that the CEO brandish
academic credentials in an area central to science, technology, innovation, design, or global
development (Masters or PhD strongly preferred). Beyond technical credibility, however, the
selected candidate will bring enthusiasm and a sense of optimism balanced by a clear-eyed view on
strategic priorities and actions required to grow GKI from a position of strength to a position of
maximum impact, efficiency, and excellence.
Candidates must be familiar with the core tenants underpinning GKI’s approach, including: systems
research and analysis (e.g., systems mapping and evaluation), human centered design, innovation,
network theory, collective action, and shared value. Additionally, a keen understanding and
established relationships with the international development community (e.g., multilaterals, bilaterals,
foundation, key research institutions, and major contractors) that can be leveraged for opportunity
cultivation, fundraising, and partnership are essential.

5. C E O R E C R U I T M E N T P A G E 0 4
LOOKING FORWARD
Grand Plans for 2018
“WE CANNOT SOLVE
OUR PROBLEMS WITH
THE SAME THINKING WE
USED WHEN WE
CREATED THEM.”
- Albert Einstein
THE DETAILS
The CEO will eagerly endorse GKI’s commitment to servant leadership and is naturally adept at
inspiring and leading staff, taking on what is necessary to get the job done well and maintain GKI’s
brand recognition and commitment to excellence. While keen on accountability, metrics, and data
for decision making, the CEO will also be a thought partner and ally to staff, supporting their growth
and development as needed.
Finally, the CEO must also bring a genuine and meaningful approach to collaboration to embody
GKI’s leadership in Collaborative Innovation and to take advantage of the bounty of resources in GKI’s
staff and partners.
Terms of Appointment
The environment for this position is in an open office setting located in Washington, DC. This role
requires travel an estimated 10 - 20 % of the time.
The salary is competitive for not for profits of similar size benchmarked to the Washington, DC not for
profit market. Benefits include health insurance, a generous vacation package, comp time, paid
maternity/paternity leave, and more.
Equal Opportunity Employment
GKI is an equal opportunity employer and genuinely values diversity within the organization. GKI does
not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age,
marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
How to Apply
Sillman Thomas Ltd have partnered with GKI as their executive search consultant. Please contact
Ruth Cairns in the first instance at rc@sillmanthomas.com. Sillman Thomas will reply to all interested
candidates. The closing date for applications is noon on Monday, 18 May 2018.